Five thoughts on the Miami Dolphins big, odd and defining news on Tuesday:

1. Suspending linebacker Lawrence Timmons indefinitely is a punitive move by the Dolphins — and seems like a smart one by the collective-bargaining agreement rules whether they want him back or don’t want anything to do with him. The Dolphins punitive measure is obvious — and by “the Dolphins” here, I mean “Adam Gase.” This is his show. He’s making the calls. While we don’t know exactly why Timmons left the team, it’s obvious Gase didn’t like the reasoning. He’s still setting the culture of this team, as a wrote in my column today, and Timmons skipping his first game as a Dolphins ran right against that concept. Some trust was broken here. It’s up to Timmons to repair that, it seems. The “indefinite” tag doesn’t just buy the Dolphins some time to decide what to do with him. It also reportedly gives them the option of getting out from under the $4.5 million they owe him for 2018 that was guaranteed, an agent said. We’ll see what the NFLPA has to say about that. But even guaranteed money isn’t always guaranteed in the NFL. This might fall into that.

2. Stephone Anthony fits all the idea of what you’re looking for right now. He was the 31st pick overall out of Clemson in 2015. He’s 6-3, 245. He had 112 tackles as a rookie in 2015. The question, of course, is why New Orleans traded him considering their defense is awful. Maybe it’s just a matter of position. Anthony was a middle linebacker as a rookie and was moved outside in 2016. He only played 10 games. He remained a back-up this year and barely played. No doubt the Dolphins got a player with some pedigree who for whatever reason was moved out of the position he liked. Does he fit in the Dolphins system? They thought so to trade for him. The question becomes if this idea works — if it does, the reported fifth-round pick is a small cost.

3. Two lessons here: 1) Don’t pick up Pittsburgh’s aging players. Joey Porter, Mike Wallace and now Timmons. Enough said? The Steelers know when to get rid of players; 2) You don’t guarantee $11 million in a $12 million deal in the NFL — even to a player who looks rock-solid. That’s a lot of guaranteed money for a guy on the other side of 30 coming to an entirely new organization in a sport where people age fast.

The Miami Dolphins addressed the team’s void at linebacker by trading for former Clemson standout Stephone Anthony on the same day the Dolphins suspended Lawrence Timmons indefinitely following his disappearance Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game.

Miami reportedly sent New Orleans a fifth-round pick...

4. Don’t expect Timmons back. Gase had Monday to make up with Timmons in some form. By Tuesday, he’s bringing in linebackers for workouts and trading for Anthony and ready to strip Timmons of money. This looks like a divorce, plain and simple.Then again, this entire saga has been surprising. Maybe there’s another surprise coming.

5. Finally, players are people, and people go through things in life, and that can be more important than the game. I have no idea what was the exact issue that set off Timmons. He decided it was more important than the game. It’s his life and he made a decision to leave the team and, beyond that, not to tell them. Decisions have consequences. The consequence here is he’s suspended indefinitely — and probably on his way out of town. But out of town on the Dolphins’ timetable, it seems.

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Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross discusses firing Adam Gase and says he's 'not proud' of what the team has done on the football field.

Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross discusses firing Adam Gase and says he's 'not proud' of what the team has done on the football field.

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Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross discusses firing Adam Gase and says he's 'not proud' of what the team has done on the football field.

Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross discusses firing Adam Gase and says he's 'not proud' of what the team has done on the football field.

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"Right now he's on the roaster," said Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier on whether quarterback Ryan Tannehill will remain with the team.

"Right now he's on the roaster," said Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier on whether quarterback Ryan Tannehill will remain with the team.

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Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said the search for a new head coach will begin "immediately" Monday after owner Stever Ross announced head coach Adam Gase was fired along with vice president for football operations Mike Tannenbaum.

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said the search for a new head coach will begin "immediately" Monday after owner Stever Ross announced head coach Adam Gase was fired along with vice president for football operations Mike Tannenbaum.

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Chris Grier, who just completed his 19th season with the Miami Dolphins and third as the team’s GM, will report directly to Ross and be charged with hiring a head coach.

Chris Grier, who just completed his 19th season with the Miami Dolphins and third as the team’s GM, will report directly to Ross and be charged with hiring a head coach.